Long lines at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport over the past week were driven by a wave of TSA officer sick calls, with nearly one in four scheduled screeners calling out, CBS News reports.
One of those officers, Pascual Contreras, an Army veteran and union official with three children whose wife also works for the TSA, says he ran out of gas money for the two‑hour round‑trip daily drive to work. Contreras described dire finances: one bank account had $18, another was overdrawn by about $100, and he said he needed $1,700 within days to cover upcoming bills — not including rent and utilities. “How am I supposed to provide a healthy, happy life for my children if I can’t even afford to go to work?” he asked.
The staffing shortages come amid a partial federal shutdown that, as of the report, left TSA workers collectively out roughly $1 billion in unpaid wages. In the Phoenix area, gas prices have risen about $1.61 a gallon during the 42 days since the shutdown began, worsening officers’ shortfalls as credit cards max out and bills pile up.
Contreras warned that even after a promise of a back pay check, recovery can be slow: following the last shutdown, some officers waited several pay periods to receive all owed wages. Still, with federal funding expected to resume soon, officials said checkpoints should begin reopening next week and wait times should start to ease. Kris Van Cleave reports.